Sake Service Institute

What Sake Service Institute does

Sake Service Institute (SSI, 日本酒サービス研究会) is a Japanese sake education and certification organization founded in 1991 and operated through the corporate entity SHURUISOKEN CO.,LTD. (株式会社酒類総研). The organization delivers a tiered credential system for sake service professionals and consumers, anchored by four professional certifications — Kikisake-shi (唎酒師), International Kikisake-shi (国際唎酒師), Sakasho (酒匠), and Washu Master Taster (和酒マスターテイスター) — alongside the Sake Knowledge Test (日本酒検定) administered annually in Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. SSI also runs the Sake Academy educational platform, SAKE Navigator seminars, brewery seminars for certified members, and major industry events including the Kikisake-shi Forum.

The core technology is proprietary sake tasting evaluation methodology and certification standards rather than a software product or platform; revenue is generated through one-time certification and exam fees, academy and training program fees, recurring membership subscriptions across three tiers (Certified, Corporate, Supporting), and online shop merchandise sales. SSI has a sister organization, SSI International, which promotes sake professional certification globally, and limited partnerships with sake breweries (Umenoyado) and regional distributors (Kobe Sake Distribution) to support member seminars and regional events. No external funding, headcount, or revenue figures are disclosed in the source material.

Name

Sake Service Institute

Legal name

SHURUISOKEN CO.,LTD.

Website

https://ssi-w.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sake Service Institute is a Japanese sake education and certification organization founded in 1991, offering tiered professional credentials (Kikisake-shi, Sakasho, Washu Master Taster) and training programs for sake service professionals and enthusiasts across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification and Qualification Fees: Revenue from certification programs including Kikisake-shi, International Kikisake-shi, Sakasho, and Master Taster certifications, along with examination fees for the sake knowledge test (酒検定)
2. Academy and Training Programs: Revenue from sake academy programs, THE 日本酒講座 courses, and specialized seminars including sake brewery seminars for certified members
3. Membership Fees: Annual membership programs including 認定会員 (Certified Member), 法人会員 (Corporate Member), and 賛助会員 (Supporting Member) categories with exclusive content access
4. Online Shop Sales: Sales of sake-related merchandise, educational materials, and products through the SSI online shop

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sake Service Institute (日本酒サービス研究会 / SSI), founded in 1991, is a private Japanese organization that administers sake-related professional certifications (Kikisake-shi, International Kikisake-shi, Sakasho, Washu Master Taster) and consumer-level knowledge examinations (Sake Test). It is operated by SHURUISOKEN CO.,LTD. (株式会社酒類総研) and delivers structured education through the Sake Academy, courses, brewery seminars, the SAKE Navigator information platform, and tiered membership programs (Certified, Corporate, Supporting).

Product overview

Sake Service Institute (SSI) operates as a certification and education organization offering a multi-tiered credential system for sake professionals. The portfolio centers on professional certifications (唎酒師/Kikisake-shi, 国際唎酒師/International Kikisake-shi, 酒匠/Sakashou, 和酒マスターテイスター/Washu Master Taster), knowledge examinations (日本酒検定), and educational programs (サケアカデミー/Sake Academy, SAKEナビ, THE日本酒講座). The institute also organizes industry events including the 唎酒師フォーラム and hosts member-exclusive 酒蔵セミナー at sake breweries. The structure progresses from entry-level certifications through to master-level qualifications, forming an integrated career pathway for sake service and sales professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kikisake-shi (唎酒師) Certification
• International Kikisake-shi (国際唎酒師) Certification
• Sakasho (酒匠) Certification
• Washu Master Taster (和酒マスターテイスター) Certification
• Sake Test (日本酒検定)
• Sake Academy (サケアカデミー)
• THE Sake Course (THE日本酒講座)
• SAKE Navigator (SAKEナビ)
• Sake Brewery Seminar (酒蔵セミナー)
• Kikisake-shi Forum 2026
• SSI Membership Programs
• SSI Online Shop

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 神戸酒類販売株式会社 (Kobe Sake Distribution)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 September 2026Corporate member partnership for autumn regional sake tasting exhibition event scheduled for September 16, 2026 in Kobe.
• SSI International (SSIインターナショナル)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational sister organization established by SSI to promote Japanese sake culture and professional certification standards globally. Operated through ssiintl.jp website.
• 梅乃宿酒造株式会社 (Umenoyado Brewery)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSake brewery partner for certified member seminars. SSI hosts exclusive brewery seminars for certified members featuring this brewery's operations and products.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wine Scholar Guild: Wine Scholar Guild offers specialized wine education and country/region-specific credentials. Like SSI, it focuses on deepening professional expertise within a specific beverage category through structured coursework and certifications.
• International Sommelier Guild (ISG): ISG delivers sommelier training and certification programs internationally. Its focus on sommelier education for hospitality professionals aligns directly with SSI's Kikisake-shi target audience and certification business model.
• Cicerone Certification Program: Cicerone certifies beer professionals through a tiered system (Certified Beer Server through Master Cicerone). Its multi-tiered beverage professional credential model for hospitality staff closely parallels SSI's sake service certification structure and target buyer.
• Court of Master Sommeliers: The Court of Master Sommeliers administers the world's most prestigious sommelier certifications (Introductory, Certified, Advanced, Master). Its tiered sommelier credential structure and direct overlap with hospitality service roles make it a close structural peer to SSI's Kikisake-shi program.
• Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET): WSET is the globally dominant beverage education body offering tiered certifications across wine, spirits, and sake (Level 1–3 Award in Sake). Its multi-tiered credential system serving both professionals and enthusiasts globally makes it the closest functional analog to SSI in beverage certification.

Broad incumbents

• Specialty Coffee Association (SCA): SCA provides coffee education, training, and certification programs for baristas and coffee professionals. Its multi-tiered credentialing and digital learning platform represent a parallel beverage professional certification model to SSI's sake-focused stack.
• Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS): DISCUS is the leading trade association for the U.S. distilled spirits industry. While not itself a certification body, it represents the broader spirits ecosystem in which SSI's Washu Master Taster (which includes shochu) operates.
• International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC): IWSC is a global competition and accreditation body for wine and spirits. Its role in setting industry standards and credentials parallels SSI's authority in establishing professional benchmarks within the sake category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SSI_HQ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCM9b_d0GU4kmDEnChiZYNLQ
• Instagraminstagram.com/ssi_sake_pr
• Facebookfacebook.com/ssisake

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sake Service Institute